Crouching Hippo Farm

Last Updated On: May 7th, 2026 at 07:37PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
1080 Morehead St
Claremont, North Carolina, 28610

Primary Contact: Gerrit Boonstra
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 9258992596
    Email: gerrit.boonstra@crouching-hippo.com

Website: https://www.facebook.com/CrouchingHippoFarm

Internship information

General Farm Description: We grow a variety of vegetables, small fruits, culinary mushrooms & microgreens + have about 120 free-range laying hens (+ 5 dogs & two cats). We are a full year producer and sell exclusively at two Charlotte area Farmers Markets every Saturday. It is a 10 acre property of which around one acre is in production at any given time (we rotate blocks). The farm location is very convenient with shopping, dining & entertainment not a long drive away. We typically operate with two full time employees, two part timers + 1 intern.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: January 2023 - sooner/later can possibly be accommodated.
Internship Ends: Open ended
Number of Internship Available: 1 (possibly two for the right couple)
Application Deadline: None
Minimum Length of Stay: 8 weeks

Internship Details:

This a full time position, meaning 35-50 hrs/week depending on how much is going on at the time.

We are looking for somebody to participate in all aspects of running a successful market farm. This will include tasks such as:

– Seed starting, we use paperpot, soil-blocks & Winstrip trays + germination chamber
– Planting. We direct seed, hand transplant the paperpot transplanter depending on the crop.
– Weeding, lots and lots of weeding, mostly by hand.
– Pruning, staking & trellising
– Harvesting, washing & packing
– Assist at the Farmers market stand

We also grow mushrooms from scratch on hardwood blocks, in this case we also do everything in-house:

– Expanding mycelium
– Mixing substrates, making & sterilizing blocks
– Inoculation
– Fruiting & harvesting

Invariably a person will gravitate to some aspects of what we do & we try to accommodate specialization as far as is practically possible.

Educational Opportunities: Participate & learn all aspects of what we do to operate a successful market farm growing vegetables, mushrooms & free-range eggs.

Skills Desired: Previous farming experience will certainly be beneficial but it is not a requirement. Ideally however applicants will have experience working outside in all seasons - the summers can be brutal here in North Carolina, so this work is not for everybody. We are flexible on the actual working hours, some folks start very early while others split the day into two halves i.e. early morning/late afternoon.

Meals: No. Everybody gets a weekly share of the farm produce.

Stipend: $1200/month

Housing: Yes. A large & well equipped RV is on site on the farm + there is a separate shower & toilet in the house. WIFI, cable TV etc. are all included.

Preferred method of Contact: Email